Republican state Rep. Mary Murphy secured a second term in Concord, prevailing over Independent challenger Tim Coffin in the race for Hillsborough District 27.
She received 961 votes — 55.1% — compared to Coffin’s 783 votes in the district, which includes Francestown and Deering. Both candidates live in Francestown.
Murphy said Wednesday morning that she’s looking forward to continuing her efforts to lower property taxes in the state.
“I would like to thank the voters of Deering and Francestown for their support and for allowing me to continue to advocate for them as their State Representative,” she said in a statement to the Ledger-Transcript. “A senior-level Democrat who was with me on House Ways & Means has already contacted me with congratulations and to ask if we can work together to advance my strategy to reduce property taxes. This is a very good sign that I will continue to be effective as your representative. Lowering your property taxes will be my highest priority.”
Coffin said he conceded the race to Murphy and had called to congratulate her on the win.
“I respect the choice Deering and Francestown voters made at the polls,” he said. “I called Representative Mary Murphy last night to congratulate her and to offer my help addressing our towns’ challenges. I wish her well in Concord.”
In Francestown, 980 people voted at the polls, and 56 people voted by absentee ballot, for a total of 1,036 votes cast in the midterms. Coffin lost by just one vote in Francestown, with 469 voters supporting him and 470 voting for Murphy.
Deering skewed further toward Murphy, 491-315.
In Francestown, 93 ballots had undervotes for the District 27 race, meaning the voter did not fill in a box for either candidate. Undervotes do not disqualify the overall ballot. Five ballots had votes only for federal office.
Murphy, a former IBM executive who has lived in Francestown for 12 years, was first elected in 2024. She ran on a platform of her “NH Advantage 2.0” strategy, which she argues will lower property taxes for New Hampshire reisdents by intentionally drawing “recession-proof” industries and businesses into the state.
The District 27 race was unusual, as the ballot had no Democratic candidate. Coffin secured enough petition signatures to run as an Independent over the summer and presented a significant challenge to Murphy — a rare feat for an Independent candidate.
Coffin, who is a former registered Republican, campaigned on reducing polarization in local politics by “representing the district, not a party.” Coffin, who had a long career in municipal finance, also campaigned on investing more in public education.
Coffin said he was inspired by the many hardworking volunteers who run small towns like Francestown.
“Week after week, volunteers in our towns show up to serve on boards and committees and local organizations. They are what make Deering and Francestown great, and it was their service that inspired me to run,” Coffin said. “As an undeclared candidate, I ran because I believe that spirit of neighbors working together belongs in Concord, too. That was a conviction, not a strategy.”